Laundry marking machine



Mara, 6, 1945. w. J. KEUPER 2,370,735

LAUNDRY MARKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 25, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR WILLIAM J. KBQUPER March 6, 1945. w. J. KEUPER LAUNDRY MARKING MACHINE 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 25

INVEN 'IOfi ILLIAM J. KEUPER HIS K "goRNay March 6, 1945. w. J. KEUPER ,LAUNDRYMAHKING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 23, 1942 INVENTOR v WILLIAM JHEUPER w. J. KEUPER LAUNDRY MARKING MACHINE March 6, 1945.

Filed Oct. 23, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVN TOR WILLIAM- J. KEUPQR t and the selected'printing type.

. the printing type with I Patented Mar. 6, 1945 ENT OFFICE} 1 LAUNDRY MARKING MACHINE.

' William John Keuper, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor' to The National Marking Machine Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October 23, 1942, Serial No. 463,082

19 Claims. (01. 101-425 by means of which a number of identifying char-- acters may be printed upon articles to be laun: dered, or other material, held upon the platen of the machine by the operator.

A further object of my invention is to provide a laundry marking machine having a platen, nor- .mally accessible at the front of the machine, upon which an operator may hold the material to be marked, and which is movable from its normal position to a printing position adjacent selected printing type and thereafter moved to carry the material against said type and take an imprint therefrom. Q

Another object of my invention is to provide a laundry marking machine with control means, readily accessible to the operator as he holds the material to be marked upon the platen of the machinafor controlling the extent or duration of the printing engagement between thematerial Some articles to be laundered are relatively thin and tightly woven while others arerelatively thick and loosely woven, and the latter require more time to soak up the ink from the printing type, so that it is" desirable to have somemeans under the control of the operator for determining the length of time that the printing engagement will be maintained. This is particularly desirable in the art of invis-, ible marking, in which, during the engagement of the material or articles to be marked, the material is impregnated in the desired pattern with a fluorescent dye contained in the ink, the visible marking being removed during the laundering operation while the fluo-y rescent dye pattern remains to be rendered visible subsequently by ultra violet light or the like. A further object of my invention is to provide such a machine in which-the control means, while carried by the platen and readily accessible to an operator while he holds the material on the platen, are so located as to insure that the operators hands will not be in position to be caught between the platen and the printing type.

snn another object r myinvention is to pro-j vide a laundry marking machine having an inking device which is movable with the platen, as the latter moves from normal to printing osition, and which, during such platen,'inks the faces of j the selected type.

Afurther object of my'inven'tion is to provide a laundry marking machine that is operated by movement of the platen-carrier from normal held upon the platen, until the platenhas' been moved from a normal to a printing position. In the art of invisible marking for laundry identification, it is customary to use type faces much larger than is the practice in visible marking, and it is afurther object'of my invention to provide a laundry marking machine having an improved-type-carrier and type selecting mecha nism, of such a nature as to provide a compact machinewvhile having the larger type used in invisible marking. d Further objects, and objects relating todetails of construction and economies of operation, will definitely appear from the detailed descrip} tion to follow. In one instance, I have accomplished the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in thefollowing specification. My invention is clearly described'and pointed out in the appendedclaims. A structure constituting a preferred embodiment of' my in-' broken away.

Fig.3 is a detail, sectional view showingfthej mounting of one of the control buttons in one end of the platen. I I a Fig. 4 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view through themachine, taken. onthe line 44 of Fig. 1, and showing the platen-carrier, platen-and ink reservoir in printing position, in full lines. and the platen-carrier and platen innormal posi-,

tion, in dotted lines. j f 5 r Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinaLcentral, sec tional view through the. platen-carrier, platen, inking device, lifter lever and theycylinders and co-operating pistons for operating said parts by fluid pressure. t a

Fig. 6 is a detail, sectional viewof the valve. mechanism for controlling the admission of .fluid pressure to the horizontal cylinder formovingthe to printing'position. Fig. 7 is a face, side'and endvie'w of One of the detachable printing types.

.Fig. 8 is a fragmentary, top plan view voi the machine casing, illustrating the indicia alongside the slots in which the handles for the selector chains work, parts being broken away to show the index plates carried by said selector chains.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the platen, the inking device and the mean for moving the platen and inking device from normal to printing position, and. vice versa, and

Fig. 10 is a view, in rear elevation, of the upper portion of the machine, a part of the casing being broken away to show the gearing for driving the endless type-carrier chains.

In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same parts throughout the several wheels for each of the eight type-carrying chains, as shown in Fig. 10, which permits of the printing of an identification mark comprising eight characters. Each type-carrier consists of a sprocket chain 80, passing around a pair of sprockets l9, and carrying a plurality of printing type. As shown in Fig. 7, each printing type comprises a type body 8|, having the appropriate character on the type face thereof, and a pair of flat parallel flanges 82, extending rearwardly from the type body and having holes 83 therein,

5 which receive the pivot pins that connect the links of the chain. Thus the printing type are 'detachably mounted on the type-carrying chain views and the sectional view is taken looking, in"

the direction of the arrows at the ends of the section line.

In general, the improved laundry marking machine of my invention comprises a number of shiftable type-carriers, each carrying a plurality of printing type, means for shifting the typecarriers so as to bring selected type to printing position, a platen upon which an operator may hold the material to be marked, and means for moving the platen'from a normal position in front of the. machine to printing position, and for moving the platen to carry the material thereon against the faces of the selected type to take an imprint therefrom. The type-carriers are preferably endless and may consistof a plurality or sprocket chains carrying the type and passing around sprockets. The. means for shifting the type-carriers, to select the type to be presented at. printing position, may comprise a plurality of selector chainsv passing around sprockets anduhaving driving connections with the corresponding type-carryingvchains, so that movements of the. selector chains bring about corresponding movements of the type-carrying chains. Suitable indicating means. are provided in connection with. the selector chains to guide the operator in. adjusting them to bring the proper type to. printing position.

The machine includes a platen-carrier which is movable from a'normal position to a printing position. A. platen is provided which. is slidably mounted upon. the. platen-carrier and, when the platen-carrier i in. normal position, the article or material. to be. markedis placed. and held by' thev operatorupon the platen- When. the platencarrier moves iromnormal'to printing position, the platen. and the material. carried thereby are brought beneath the selected type and the platen is then raised to lift the material against said- .type and take. an imprint. therefrom. Control meansmay be provided on the platen, accessible to the thumbs of the operator holding the material thereon, for initiating the movement of theplaten-carrier from normal to printing position and said control means. are so located that, in order to initiate such movement,.the operators thumbs must be in such positions that they can not be caught between the platen and the type. An inking device may be mount-ed on the platencarrier to movetherewith and, as the platencarrier moves from normalto printing position,

the inking. device moves over the faces of the selected type to apply ink thereto.

Referring to thenumbered parts of the drawings, my improved laundry marking machine has. aframe or casing l0. Mounted therein are a. pair of spaced parallel shafts, 11 and 18,. on each of which there is journaleda series of sprocket wheels 19. There is a pair of these. sprocket with the type faces outermost. As will appear hereinafter, the printing position for these type is directly below the shaft 11 and, when the selectedtype have been brought to this position, the type face downwardly and are in position to be engaged by material placed upon a platen, which is moved upwardly againstthem.

'li'ov each of the sprocket wh'eels.'|9, on shaft I8, there is' fasteneda gear 9.5..(see. Fig. 10), which meshes with a corresponding gear94 journaled on a shait86 mounted in the frame It. To each of the gears 94, there is secureda sprocket wheel 87 around which passes the corresponding endless selector chain 88.. These selector. chains also pass aroundsprockcts 81' mounted on a parallel shaft 85,. also mounted in the casing Ill. As a. selector chain is moved, the sprockets 81' are rotated, thus rotating gears, 94 and 95 and driving the corresponding type-carrying chain 80. Gear 94 and 95 are of such size as to provide a gear reduction, so that movement of the selector chain through a givenidistance will move the corresponding type-carrying chain a greater distance.

Secured to each. selector chain 89 is a handle, 9!, which extends through a corresponding slot 89 in the. casing l0.. Eaohhandle 9| is movable, within the limitsv of. slot 89, and alongside each. slot the characters. 93,. appearing on the several. types of the type-carrying chain, are marked on thecasing l0. Thetype areso mounted. on the type-carrying chains, and the driving connections. between the. selector chains and said type-carrying chainsare such, that when a handie 9! is moved. to a. position opposite one of these characters, the type on the corresponding type-carrying chain, bearing the corresponding character, will be brought to. printing position. The casing I0 is provided with a plurality of sightopenings 90, one for each. selector chain, in

line with and above the upper ends of the slots 89, and each selector chain has secured theretoa plurality of index plates, 92, bearing characters corresponding to those on the type. These index plates are so positioned on the selector chains that, when the handles. 9| have been- For the: purpose; of aligning the selected type at printing position, I have provided. a type-aligning. device which comprlsesa tube 96, mounted on the frame of the machine, in which a plunger 91 is slidably mounted, said plunger being pressed outwardly by a spring 98 housed within tube 96. The forward end of the plunger 91 carries a rounded aligning. bar. 99, enga ing all' of the sprockets I9. on thelower shaft. 1]. As these sprockets revolve, the plunger 91- yields. against.

l selected type .inprinting position.

The laundry marking machine shown herein has been designed especially for use in the in-' visible marking of articles and material for laun dryidentification. In the method, as now prac ticed, of invisible marking forv laundry identi-' fication, it is customary to use characters very considerably greater thanthose used for visible marking. For instance, this machine has been devised to provide characters having a type face as large as 4;". x As shown in Fig. 8, each type-carrying chain has type thereon for printing 37 different characters and .this requires a possible movement of 38 inches for each typecarrying chain. Obviously, if these chains were set directly this would require a very cumbersome machine but, by providing the selector chains shown and appropriate gearing connecting the selector chains and the type-carrying chains, I am enabled to secure this extended movement of the latter with a much smaller movement of the selector chains, well within the range of atompact setting panel on the top of the machine casing. 1 i

The platen-carrier l5 (Figs. 1, 4 and 5) has secured thereto a pair of tubes l4, which extend rearwardly therefrom and are slidably mounted in bearings l3 provided at thesides of a crosshead ll, mounted on the frame of the machine.

' These tubes l4, in turn, are slidably mounted on guide rods l8 fixed to a cross-bar l9, which is also mounted in the frame of the machine. Thus, the platen-carrier is mounted 'for hori- ,zontal movement from a normal position to aprinting position, and vice versa. Springs 20 surrounding the guide rods I8, and compressed between the cross-bar I9 and the ends of the tubes l4, tend to move the platen-carrier forwardly to the normal position.

The platen l6 has a fiat upper surfaceand a flange l1 extends downwardly from the "end and forward edges of said platen, forming a recess between said flange and the body of the platen to receive the fingers of the operatoryas he holds an article or material to bemarked upon the flat upper surface of the platen. An insert l6, which may be of rubber or other yieldable material, is mounted in the upper surface of the platen so that, when the platen is in printing position, said insert will be opposite the selected type and, when the platen is lifted, said insert will press the material thereon yieldingly against the faces of the selected type. I

A pair of rods 21 are secured to the platen I6 and extend downwardly therefrom through vertical bores in the platen-carrierlS. A cross-' bar 28 i secured to the lower ends of the rods 21, below the platen-carrier, and springs 29 surrounding the rods 21 are compressed between said cross-bar 28 and the body of the platencarrier and yieldingly hold the platen in its lower position. Thus, it appears that the platencarrier is movable horizontally from a normal to a printing position, against-the pressure of springs 20, and the plate-11 may be moved, with respect to the platen-carrier, vertically against the pressure of springs 29. 1

An inking device is'mounted on the platencarrier, to move therewith, upon aflange 3! projecting rearwardly therefrom. -This inking device includes an ink' reservoir 30, an inking'roller 32; and a=wick 33, one end ink: in the reservoir while' the other. end is arranged to bear against thesurface of the inking roller 32, to supply ink drawn from the res-' ervoir 30' tov the surface of saidroller. A wick compressing bar 34-is provided, which engages the wick and is adjusted relative thereto .by a screw 35, for regulating the flow of ink by capillary attraction through thejwick to the inking roller. The inking roller is so located in the.

' inking device, and the inking device is sosupported from the platen-carrier that, at each movement of theplaten-carrier from normal-to printing position, the inking roller will be car-. ried across the facesof the selected type and apply ink thereto. When the, platencarrieris in printing position, the inking devicestands to the rear thereof, as shown in Fig. 4. I

A drawbar 26 is slidably mounted in the-crosshead- II and extends througha packing gland 22, carried bysaid crosshead. The forward end of the drawbar extends through the platen-car rier l5 and has a reduced portion, forming a shoulder engaging a corresponding shoulder 23 in the platen-carrier.

2B, is compressed between the body of the platen-carrier I5 and a nut 24 screwed upon the forward reduced end of the drawbar. The spring 26' presses the platen-carrier l5 rearwardly so that cylinder 36 shoulder 23 seats on the shoulder of drawbar 26,

but this connection will yield to permit the drawbar to move rearwardly with respect to -the platen-carrier IS. A piston 2| is fastened to the rear endof the drawbar 26 by a nut 2| and works in a, cylinder I 2, which is carried by the crosshead- H. When fluid pressure is admitted to. the cylinder 12 in, front of the piston 2|, the piston is moved rearwardly pulling the drawbar 26 and the platen-carrierv l5 rearwardly, against the pressure of springs 20, until the platen-carrierhits the packing gland 22 when it arrives at printing position. -Piston 2| and drawbar 26 can move still further to the rear, after the platen-carrier reaches this position,-because of the yielding of spring 26'. The reasonfor the further movement of the;piston 2i and drawbar 26 will be pointedv out hereinaften;

'A'lifter lever is fulcrumed on the shaft 43, supported in the frame of the machine, and comprises a pair of rearwardly extending arms 4| and a pair of forwardly extending arms 42. A lifter bar-44 is carried by the forward ends of the arms 42. When the platen-carrier has moved from normal to printing position, as shown in Fig. 4, the"crossbar-28 secured to'platen I6 is above the bar 44 of the lifter lever and, when the lifter lever is rocked counterclockwise, with the 1 parts in this position, the platen will be lifted against the pressure of springs 29 to carry material held thereon by the operator against the faces of the selected type. The rear end of each of the rearwardly extending arms 41 of the lifter lever is pivotally connected at 40 to the lower end of a rod 39, secured to one end of a crossbar 38, and said'crossbar 38 is secured to the lower end of a piston rod 31 extending through the base of a piston and the piston rod 31 upwardly to rock the lifter lever clockwise, but, when fluid pres of 'which is in the v A spring26', surrounding the reduced portion of the drawbar and having a piston 31' secured to its upper end and working in said cylinder. A

andshown in Fig.

sure is admitted to the cylinder. 36. above the piston 31., it movessaid pistondownwardly in the cylinder against the pressure of spring 31a. and thereby rocks the lifter lever counterclockwise to lift the platen. Vents 10 are provided in the walls of the cylinders l2 and 36 to permit the escape ofair from said cylinders on the working strokes of the pistons. v I

Fluid pressure is used as the source of energy for operating the printing mechanism of this machine. A source of fluid pressure, such as the tank 45 filled with compressed air, is provided and connected by pipe 46 to inlet 48 of a valve mechanism 41 (see Fig. 6). v Inlet port 48 is connected bya passage 49 to the valve chamber 50', in which there is a valve seat 51 intermediate the chamber; 56- and another chamber- 54 communicating with an outlet port 55. A valve 52, having a seating member 58 adapted to engage the valve seat is slidably mounted in the body of the valve mechanism 41 and is pressed toward the valve seat 5| by a spring 53. A plunger 51 is slidably mounted in the valve body, with its inner end projecting into the valve chamber 54, and is pressed outwardly away from valve seat 5| by a'- spring 59. An exhaust passage 54a extends longitudinally through the plunger 51 and, in the position of the parts shown in Fig. 6, connects the valve chamber 54 with the atmosphere. A pivoted lever 6| (see Fig. 4) has its free end adjacent the outer end of the plunger 51 and is provided with a finger adapted to close the outer end of the exhaust passage 54a, when the lever 6| is rocked counterclockwise from the position shown in Fig. 4. Said movement of thelever not only closes the exhaust passage 5411 but also pushes the plunger 51 inwardly, against the pressure of spring 59, until the inner end of the plunger engages the seating member 58 and moves it away from its seat 5|, thus establishing communication between the inlet port 48 and the outlet port 55. 1 I In the normal position of the parts, as shown in Fig. 6, the fluid pressure in tank 45 is connected through port 46 to the valve chamber 56, but is cut off from theoutlet port 55' because of the seating of member 58 on valve seat 5|.' Outlet port 55 is connected by pipe 56 to the forward end of the cylinder |2 in front of the piston 50 2| and thus, in the normal position of the parts, the space in cylinder |2 in front of piston 2| is connected to the atmosphere through. pipe 66, outlet port 55, chamber 54 and exhaust passage 54a. However, when lever 6| is: rocked counter- 55 clockwise to seal the exhaust passage 54a and press inwardly the plunger 51, the valvemember 58 is unseated and a. connection is'established be tween inlet port 48- and outlet port 55 so thatfluid pressure from tank 45 is admitted in front of piston 2| in cylinder l2. This moves'the piston 2| rearwardly against the pressure oi springs 20 .and draws the platen-carrier l5 rearwardly from normal to printing position. When the lever 6| is rocked clockwise to release the plunger 51:

and open the exhaust passage 54a, the valve member 58 again seats on valve seat 5|, cutting. off communication between the tank 45 and pipe 56, and the outlet port 55 isconnected to the atmosphere through passage 54a, so that the:

pressure in cylinder I2 in front of-piston 2| is vented to the atmosphere. A valve mechanism 64, similar in most respects to the valve mechanism already-described from. pipe 46, is connected to thevalve chamber of valve mechanism 64, corresponding to the valvechamber shown in Fig. 6. A valve 68. corresponding to valve 52, is pressed against its seat, corresponding to. valve seat 5|, by a spring 65.v Valve chamber 66, which corresponds to chamber 54 shown in Fig. 6, is connected by pipe 61. to the upper end of thecylinder 36 above the piston 31. A. plunger 69, having an exhaust passage 59a and correspondingto plunger 51 shown-in. Fig. 6, is spring. pressed. forwardly. With the .parts' in the position shown in Fig. 6, the; valve 68 cuts off: communication between pipe 63: and pipe 61 and the latter, which is connected to the upper end of cylinder 36, is con-" front of piston 2|, it moves the piston rearwardly against the pressure of springs 20' and:

draws the platen-carrier |5 rearwardlyuntil the latter' strikes the packing gland 22, thereafter, the fluid'pressure in the cylinder moves the-piston 2| still further rearwardly, spring 26' yielding to permit this and, during such -further movement, the nut 2| engages plunger 69 and presses. it rearwardly, thus unseating the valve 68, establishing communication between pipe 63 and pipe 67 and, at the same time, sealing the passage 69a. Thus, fluid pressure can flow from pipe 63- through the valve mechanism 64 to pipe 61 and into the cylinder 36 above the piston 31, and force the latter downwardly against the pressure of spring 31a, thus rocking the lifting lever counterclockwise and lifting the platen Hi to carry material held thereon by the operator into printing engagement with the selected type and. take an: imprint therefrom.

nism is under the control of control members located on the platen |6, at the ends thereof.

andv accessible to the thumbs of an operator, while he holds material to be marked upon the flat upper face of said platen. One of these control. members is shown in Fig. 3 and consists of: apush button switch 15, biased by a spring to open position, and connected in an electric circuit '16 which includes a source of electric energy 1.6 and the solenoid, 60. The switches are so connected in the circuitthat both of them have tobe closed, by depression of the push buttons 15, to complete a circuit which will energize the solenoid 60. The armature of solenoid 6D is connected'to the upper end of the lever 6| so that, when said solenoid is energized, the lever will be rocked counterclockwise to seal the exhaust passage 54a and press inwardly the plunger 51, as already described.- A spring 62 is connected to rock the lever 6| clockwise, when the solenoid is de-energized. The buttons 15 are carried by the platen and located near the ends thereof and these buttons are accessible to the thumbs of an. operator, while he is holding material upon the upper face of the platen. It is necessary, to start and maintain the fluid pressure mechanism in operation, that both of these buttons be depressed and this insures that the hands of the operator will not be in position to be caught between the platen and the printing" 6, is mounted at the rear end-'- ll opens and. the circuit is broken, which causes the" immediate return of-the platen to normal position. I v

From the description of the parts heretofore given, the operation of my improved laundry marking machine should be-readily understood. The operator-first shifts the handles 9| oppositethe characters on the casing Hkadjacent the slots 89, which indicate the identifying mark to be placed on the articles or material. The shifting of these handles 9| results in the adjustin'g or shifting of the type-carrying chains 80 to bring the selected type to printing position for printing the selectedcharacters comprising the mark.- The platen I6 is in its nor-' mal position, at the front of the machinewhereit is readily accessible to the operator,who places an article to be laundered, or other material tc be'marked, on the platen l6 and holds it thereon." While holding the material-on the platen, his thumbs are adjacent the buttons 15 both of which he now depresses to start the'fiuid pressure mechanism in operation This closes the circuit 16, energizes solenoid 60 and rocks lever 6| counterclockwise against the pressure (of spring 62, to close the exhaust passagelfla and admit fluid pressure from tank 45 to th'e portion of cylinder l2 in front of piston 2|. 'This causes piston 2| to move rearwardly against the pressure of springs 20, drawing the platen carrier l rearwardly until it arrives at printing position and hits the packing glancl"22 .i Then, the platen-carrier remains in printing'position while the spring I 26/ yields and permits piston 2| and draw-bar 26 to move stillfurther rearwardly. During'this rearward movement, the nut 2| hits the end of the plunger 69 and pushes it rearwardly, establishing communicaticnfbetween pipe'63 and pipe 61 an'd'closing the exhaust port 69a. Thus, the space incylinder 36 above the piston 31' is connected with the source of-fluid'pressure and piston 31' 'is forced downwardly against the V H 7 ing the lifter lever, 4|, 42, counterclockwise. The movement of the plate -carrier' l5 to printing posit-ion brought the crossbar 28 above the bar of the lifter lever and, when the latter is rocked counterclockwise, bar 28 and platen I6 are lifted; to carry the material held on the platen" upwardly against the faces of the selected, and inked-type. The printing engagement between the; material and the inked type is maintained as long as the operator holds both of the buttons 15 depressed. j ,c I

L: ,When the operator releases one or both of the 4 buttons 15, solenoid 60 is immediately de-energi zed. Spring'6'2 then rocks the'lever 6| clockwise, which uncovers the exhaust passage 54a and permits spring 59 to move the plunger 51 out pressure of spring am, rockdisclosed" herein is l6 downwardly carrying the material held thereon away from the type. Springs 20 act to move thepiston 2|, drawbar 25 and platen-carrier l5 forwardly to the normal position. Thus, the first forward movement of piston 2| results in the lowering of the platen before continued forward movement of said piston and drawbar 26 moves the platen-carrier i5 to the normal position- In this way, the blurring of the mark by movement -ofthe platen horizontally, while the material is in-engagement with the type, is prevented.

The operator can control the time of engage-' ment of the material with the printing type by the control buttons 15, while holding the material onthe platen l6, and thus regulate the duration of the printing engagement in'accordance with the character or the fabric or material upon which the imprint is to be made. If, after the platen has moved to normal position, the operator believes that a further impression is necessary, he can again depress the control buttons 15 andtake another imprint on the material by a repetition of the procedure just described. I

-I am aware that the laundry marking machine susceptible of considerable variation, without departing from the spirit of my invention, and, therefore, I claim my invention broadly as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim is: 7 In a machine of the class described includ mg a type assembly adaptedto locate type at printing position, the combination of aplatencarrier movable horizontally from a; normal position tola printing position, a platen mounted on said platen-carrier. for 'vertical movement, a lifter, a member rigidly connected to said platen and'normally out of operative relation with said lifter-but brought into operative relation there- With'by movement of the platen-carrier to printing position, and means'fcr actuating said lifter.

2. In a machine of the class described including a-type assembly adapted'to locate type at printing position, the combination of a platencarrier movable horizontally from a normalposition to a printing position, a

and normally out lifter but brought into operative relation therewith by movement of the platen-carrier to printing position, and means, operating automatically w'ardly, so that the member 58 can seat, on the valve seat 5| and cutoff communication between the'source of fluidpressure and the spacein front of piston2 l,- which is then vented to the atmos phere through the exhaust passage 54a; Spring 26 immediately movesgdrawbarlli and piston 2| forwardly,- while the platen-carrieri5 remains stationary. This movement of piston 2| is suincientto uncover the exhaust passage a and permit plunger 69 to move forwardly to cut off communication between the source of fluid pres sure and'thespace in cylinder'36 above the pis-' t'cn3'l, which is then vented to the atmosphere through passage 6911, the interior of cylinder i2 and vent 10,".51311118 31a immediately forces piston 31' upwardly, which rocksthelifter lever, 4|, 42, clockwise, 'so that springs 29 force the platen I of operative relation with means, operating autom upon completion of the movement of said platencarrier to printing position, to actuate said lifter. 3. In a machine, of the class described including a type assemblyadapted to locate type at printing position, the combination of a platencarr1er, means for moving the platen-carrier horizontally from a normal position to a printing position, a platen mounted on said platencarrier for vertical movement, a lifter, a member rigidlyconnected to said platen and normally out W said lifter but brought into; operative relation therewith by movement of the platen-carrier; to'printing position, and tically upon completion Otlthe movement of said ing position, to actuate said lifter. 4. In 'a machine of the class described including atype assembly adapted to locate type 1 at printing position, the combination of a platencarrierrnovable horizontally from ,a normal po-' sition to a printing position, adrawbar yieldingly'connected to said platen-carrier whereby said drawbar is permittedrfurther movement after the platen-carrier reaches printing position,

I platen mounted on said platen-carrier for vertical movement, a. lifter, a member rigidly connected to said platen of operative relation with said I platen-carrier to print-.

means for -actuating said drawbar, a platen mountedon said platen-carrierfor vertical movefor actuating said lifter whereby the platen is lifted to carry materialjplaced thereon against the selectedtypeto take. an imprint therefrom.

5, Inamachine of the class described including -,,a.;type assembly adapted to locate type at printing position, the, combination of a platencarrier movablexhorizontally from a normal position toaprinting position, a drawbar yieldingly connected to said ,platen-carrier whereby aid drawbar is permittedsfurther .movement after the platen-carrier reaches printing position, fluidpressure-means including .a piston connected to said drawbar for actuating the, latter, a platen .mountedon said platen-carrier for verticahmovement, a lifter, a member ri idlyconnected; to saidplaten and normally. out otioperative relation with said lifter but brought into;operative relation therewith by movement of ,said platen-carriertoprinting position, and means, operated automatically .at the .end of the piston stroke, for actuating saidlifter'whereby the platenis. lifted to ,carrylmaterial placed thereon against. the. selected typeto take an imprint, therefrom.

6. 7111; a, machine .of the ,class, described includin ;a type assembly adapted to. locate type at printing position,..the .combination of a platencarrier movable'horizontally from a, normal position toa;printingposition, a drawbar yielding- 1y, connected: to saidplatenecarrier whereby said drawbaris-permitted further. movement after the platen-:carrier reaches printing position, pneumatic means inoluding a pistonconnected to saiddrawbar for actuating the latter, aplaten mounted on saidplaten-carrier. for vertical movement, alifter, a member rigidly connected to "aidplatenand normally out of operative relatio withsaid lifter but brought into operative relation therewith by movement of said platencarrier. to printing position, and fluid pressure means, .operatedautomatically at the end of the piston stroke, for, actuating said lifter whereby thel platenis lifted to carry. material placed thereon, against the selected typeto take an. imprinttherefrom. v

Ina machine of the class described including, aty'peassembly adapted to locate type at. printing position, the com bination of a slidably mounted platenecarrienspring means acting on saidplaten-carrier and tending to move it lat erally of thetype tonormalposition, a cylinder, a piston working therein, a drawbar fastened to, said piston, yielding connectionsp between said drawbar and said platen carrier', means for ad rnitting fluid pressure (to said cylinder to move saidfpi'ston against the. action of said spring.

"means and draw said platen-carrier tov printingipo'sition, s'ai'd' yielding 'connectionspermitting a "further movement or said piston, a platen mounted on'said platen-carrier and adapted to receive thej'rnateri'al. to be printed upon, when the platen-carrierfis in normal position, and means, controlled, automatically by said further movement'of the piston, for moving said platen with respect to the platen-carrier toward the type to carry said material against them and.

take an imprint therefrom.

2&19933 tion, for lifting said crossbar vertically to move theplaten upwardly and carry material placed thereon against theselected type toitake an imprint therefrom.

9. In a machineof the class described including. atype assembly adapted to locate type at. printing. position, the combination of'a platencarrier movable "horizontally from a-v normal to a printing positioma platen, a:pair of guiderods secured to. said platen and extending downwardly through vertical bores in the platen-carrier, a crossbar securedto the lower ends of said rods, springs on said rods compressed between the platen-carrier and said crossbar, a lifter so located that horizontalmovementof the platencarrier to printing position brings said crossbar into operative relation-with the lifter, and means for actuating'said lifter.

10. In a machine of the class describedsincluding a type assembly adapted to locatev type at printing position, the combination-of a platencarrier movabl horizontally from a normal to'a printing position, a platen, a pair of guide rods secured to said platen and extending downwardly throughvertical bores in the platen-carrier, a crossbar secured tothe lower ends. of said. rods, springs on said rods compressed between the platen-carrier andsaid crossbar, a lifter lever pivoted on a fixedaxisand having, one end thereof located below the said crossbar when said. platen-carrier, is inprinting position, and means for rocking said lifter lever.

11. In a machine of. the class described including atypeassemblyadapted to locate type at printing position, thecombination of a platencarrier movable horizontally. froma normal to a printingposition, aplaten, a pair of guide rods secured to said platen and, extending downwardly through vertical bores in the platen-carrier, a crossbar secured to th lower ends. of said rods, springs on said rods compressed between the platen-carrier and said crossbar, a litter lever pivoted on a fixed axis and-having one end thereof located below the. said crossbar, when said platen-carrier is. in printingposition, .a cylinder, apiston working. therein and connected tothe opposite end of said lifter lever,,and.means for admitting. fluidv pressure. to. said cylinderv to rock. said lifter lever and lift the. platen vertically, carrying material placedthereon againstv the selected type-to; take an imprintthereirom.

.12, In a machineof the.-.class.described. including .a type-assembly, adapted to locate type at printing. position, the combination oi s, flat platen: uponrwhich theamaterial to be marked may be placed, theforwardportion of said platen having a .dependingfiange forming a-:re.cess.-in the lower portion of the platen "adapted to receive the fingers of an .operator holding said material-across 'the. upper face. of the platen,- and means: for

moving said platen to. carry said material againstthe selected typetdtake. animprint therefrom.

13. In. a. machine of .the class adescribed inatype lassembiy adaptedfto locatestype;

fiat

at printing position, the combination of a 1 the control of said members for moving said platen upon which the material to be marked may be placed, the forward portion of said platen having a depending flange forming a recess in the lower portion of the platen adapted to receive the fingers of an operator holding said mapressed against the type,- and means for moving said platen to carry said material against the selected type to take an imprint therefrom.

14. In a machine of the class described in-* cluding a type assembly adapted to locate type at printing position, the combination of a platen upon which the material to be marked may be placed, a control member carried by said platen and accessible to the operator when he is holding said material across the platen, and means under the control of said member for moving said platen platen to carry said material against the selected v,

type to take an, imprint therefrom. a 1'7. In a machine of the class described including a type assembly adapted to locate'type at printing position, the combination of a flat platen upon which the material to be marked may be held by an operator, control member carried by said platen adjacent the ends thereof and accessible to the thumbs of said operator, when he is holding said material across the upper face of the platen, means under the control of said members for moving said platen horizontally from to carry said material against the selected type to take an imprint therefrom.

15. In a machine of the class described including a type assembly adapted to locate type at printing position, the combination of a platen upon which the material to be marked may be placed, control members carried by said platen adjacent the ends thereof. and accessible to the hands of the operator while holding the material across the platen, and means under the control of said members for moving said platen to carry said material against the selected-type to take an imprint therefrom. i

'16. In a machine of the class described including a type assembly adapted to locate type at printing position, the combination of a flat platen upon which the material to be marked may be placed, the forward portion of said platen having a depending flange forminga recess in the lower portion of the platen adapted to receive the fingers of an operator bers' carried-by said platen adjacent the ends thereof and accessible to the thumbs of said normal to printing position, and means, effective when the platen is in printing position, for mov ing it vertically to carry the material thereon against the selected type to take an imprint therefrom.

18. In a machine of the class described includinga typeassembly adapted to locate type at printing position, the combination of a platen upon which the material to be marked may be held by an operator, a pair of control switches carried by the platen at opposite ends thereof and accessible to the thumbs of the operator while holding said material on the platen, an electric circuit controlled by said switches, and means controlled bysaid circuit for movingsaid platen to carry the material held thereon against the selected type to take an imprint therefrom.

19. In a machine of the class described in-- cluding a type assembly adapted to locate type at printing position, the combination of a platen upon which the material to be marked may be held by an operator, a pair of control switches carried by the l and accessible to platen at opposite ends thereof the thumbs of the operator while holding said material across the upper face of the platen, control meming the platen toward imprint therefrom on said material.

trolled by said circuit for moving said platen from normal to printing position, and means, effective when said platen is in printing position, for movthe selected type to take an ,WILLIAM JOHN KEUPER. 

